I knocked on more than 5,000 doors over the course of the last five months, and the number one complaint I heard from voters was that they were sick of all of the fighting. They wanted leaders who would go down to the state House and work together to get things done.

Why can't we meet over a beer to talk?

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Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court — but her career was filled with other noteworthy accomplishments too.
William Flannigan, azcentral

Our legislative district, which includes Paradise Valley and parts of Phoenix, has an incredible tradition of bipartisan cooperation. Sandra Day O’Connor was a state senator from what is now LD 28 and has spoken movingly about inviting legislators from both parties over to her house for Mexican food and beer to help build the relationships she knew were so important to doing the people’s business.

During the campaign, I often told voters about how in the 1980s Republican Majority Leader Burton Barr, who served as a state representative from what is now LD 28, had Democratic Gov. Bruce Babbitt over to his house for a cup of coffee every Sunday during the legislative session. They met to plan out how they were going to work together — not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Arizonans committed to building a bright future for the state.

Nearly every single time I shared that story, I heard the same reaction from voters across the district: We need to get back to that same spirit today.

The system is set up to keep us apart

I know working together across the aisle to get things done will not be easy. Of the 446 bills Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law last year, 98 percent of them had Republicans as the prime sponsor. No one can honestly believe that any one party had 98 percent of all the good ideas for the state.

In my first few days at the state House, I have seen how even the layout of the building is designed to divide us. Democrats have their offices on the first floor, Republicans on the second floor. Even the desks on the floor of the House are divided — with Republicans in the center and Democrats scattered on either side.

I am still 100 percent committed to do all I can to find common ground with Republicans. During the campaign, I promised to have a meal with every Republican member of the state House of Representatives.

If they'll meet with me, I want to chat

I am already reaching out to Republicans to extend those invitations. I also am going to offer to speak at the next LD 28 Republicans monthly meeting. If they’ll have me, I will listen to their concerns and explain how I plan to do the best job I can to represent all of LD 28 down at the Capitol.

The Arizona state House has a greater balance between Democrats and Republicans than any time since 1954. That makes me optimistic about our ability to work together.